November 4, 2016

The most important service an animal shelter or rescue provides their local communities is matching animals with the perfect forever home and family. Sometimes adopting families are not readily available. And sometimes the animals need to be reintroduced to loving home and family. Both of these require time – time to find the perfect family and time for the animal to readjust to a safe and comfortable life. Animal shelters and rescues rely on foster homes to provide the animal in need with the care and environment they need.

It is important for the animal shelter or rescue to recruit caring and loving foster parents capable of providing this care. Where do you start? How do you know they will make amazing foster parents? Use this checklist to select the best foster parents.

What to do

Require a foster home application.

Conduct an in-person or over the phone interview.

Visit the home.

Require a foster agreement.

Conduct a background check.

Conduct a foster parent orientation and training.

Questions to ask

How long can they commit to fostering?

How many hours do they spend away from their home daily?

Where do they live?

What does their property consist of? Is there a yard? Is there a fence?

What do they think proper care consists of?

Are the financially able to provide for the animal?

How will they handle any potential trips out of town?

Who lives in their home? What are their ages?

Do they have any additional animals?

Do they have knowledge of proper animal care?

Do they have experience caring for animals?

Are they willing to allow potential adopters visit their home?

Why do they want to be a foster parent?

How will they handle the animal leaving after growing attached?

These are vital questions to gain a better understanding of the potential environment for the animals. You want to match the animal with a home that best suits their needs.
Recruiting great foster parents increases your long-term retention and gives more opportunity to help animals in need.